WHAT COLOR IS THAT... REALLY...?
Welcome to the world of gray.
And I do mean world.
For it seems there are endless grays
and gray no longer means the color of cement
Because of gray,
the world of color is more soothing,
more gentle
the world of color is more soothing,
more gentle
and more livable.
When it comes to wall color, that is most desirable
Wall color should become the background -
a well behaved part of the design
It should not shout at you
or steal the limelight
or steal the limelight
(some wall colors have no manners at all.)
and, yes, there are always exceptions to the rule....
but generally a design works best if you start with neutrals
and layer the color palette as you go...
and a grayed down version of any color turns that color into a neutral.
It is not always easy to see the genesis of the wall color you select.
Some are obvious.
Others, puzzling.
Some turn a definite color in incandescant light
and another completely different one in natural daylight.
Some are chameleons.
For this reason, always try a sample on your wall first....
see how it lives in your home and your light..
see how it lives in your home and your light..
but it sometimes helps to know the base of your gray.
Here's an easy way to find out what undertone your gray has.
Find your color on the paint strip and follow it down to the darker colors on the strip.
You can usually see a definite blue, purple, brown or green tone.
If you are still having difficulty, go to the strip on the left and the strip on the right and compare them. The strip directly before and the strip directly after will help you see where your color falls - some have more blue, red, green or yellow - some are blue leading into the greens, but you will be able to see in the dark tones the color that is hidden in the lighter tones on the strip.
Nearly every color can become a gray.
When you are choosing a color for your wall, take the color you love and gray it down a little. Or a lot.
It makes it ultimately more liveable, easier on the eye, and more neutral.
Neutrals, and especially the grays, go with just about everything.
Perfect for your room.
Love your website - you are incredibly generous to share all this information! What would be the best gray color for a small bedroom that has one small north facing window. The room is pretty dark and I am having no luck at all picking a room color. Since it's such a small room I don't want it to feel cave like. Thanks so much for any advice!
ReplyDeleteDear GPS
DeleteI love a light gray - and some on the lighter side you might try are Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray and Stonington Gray. I also like a nice silvery blue gray - Silver Fox by Benjamin Moore. All are lighter - so try some on the walls to see how it works in that north light. Good luck!
Love your website. I am still in love with tan walls with golden undertones. Is there a gray with golden undertones. thanks
ReplyDeleteAnonymous (Jan 26)
DeleteUnfortunately, graying down yellow doesn't always produce a very elegant color. But there are some grays that go very well with gold and tan as an accent. In fact most of them do, because the cooler tones of the grays really make the warm tones look their best. Try a medium gray - Woodcliff Lake (Benjamin Moore), Sparrow (another medium gray) or Gray Cashmere (lighter gray) with warm tan and gold and yellow accents. On the other hand, there are some perfectly lovely tans and golds - don't feel you have to go gray if your true love isn't there. Good luck!
Stumbled across your website in my desperate search for a paint color to make me love my house - I'm obsessed with all things gray right now, but just can't seem to find the right one. Looking for a neutral that would go throughout an open concept home, once I have the base I'm confident the accents will come to me; my biggest problem is the natural maple wood work throughout (stair rails and kitchen cabinets). I don't want them to pop as "yellow"...Any suggestions?? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous (2/8)
DeleteMy go-to gray, also voted one of the most beautiful paint colors right now, is Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. It is a greige, or a warm gray, on the light to medium tone and looks wonderful in any light and with any wood tone. It pops beautifully against white trim. Give it a try. I plan to repaint my entire open concept home in this color with fresh white trim.
Good luck!
Dear GPS
ReplyDeleteI love a light gray - and some on the lighter side you might try are Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray and Stonington Gray. I also like a nice silvery blue gray - Silver Fox by Benjamin Moore. All are lighter - so try some on the walls to see how it works in that north light. Good luck!
Anonymous (Jan 26)
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, graying down yellow doesn't always produce a very elegant color. But there are some grays that go very well with gold and tan as an accent. In fact most of them do, because the cooler tones of the grays really make the warm tones look their best. Try a medium gray - Woodcliff Lake (Benjamin Moore), Sparrow (another medium gray) or Gray Cashmere (lighter gray) with warm tan and gold and yellow accents. Good luck!
Dear Anonymous (2/8)
ReplyDeleteMy go-to gray, also voted one of the most beautiful paint colors right now, is Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. It is a greige, or a warm gray, on the light to medium tone and looks wonderful in any light and with any wood tone. It pops beautifully against white trim. Give it a try. I plan to repaint my entire open concept home in this color with fresh white trim.
Good luck!